Collapsible metal packing-case.



G. J. WEBSTER. GOLLAPSIBLB METALPAGKING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1913.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2. SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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G. J. WEBSTER. GOLLAPSIBLE METAL PACKING CASE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1a, 1913.

'1, 1 32,81 2; Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CHARLES J. WEBSTER, 0F OSCEOLA, NEBRASKA.

COLLAPSIBLE METAL PACKING-CASE.

Application filed July 18, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. VVEBsTEn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Osceola, in the county of Polk, State of Nobraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Metal Packing-Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to folding metallic packing cases and has for an object to provide an extremely strong knock-down case which will be without projecting hinges and similar projections that would be liable to injury.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character in which the opposite ends will each be in two hinged parts foldable one upon the other and adapted to be readily locked to the sides of the case when the latter is set up and when so locked to reinforce the sides against crushing at the edges.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character that will be formed of a few light, strong and durable parts that will not easily get out of order.

With the above objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be made in the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention :Figure 1 is a side elevation of the case in set up position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 Fig. 2 and showing in dotted lines one end of the case rocked open. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line ll Fig. 2 showing the means of locking the ends closed. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the initial step in folding the case after rocking open the ends. Fig. 6 is a view showing the case flattened out preparatory to the final step of folding. Fig. 7 is a view showing the case folded. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the case folded.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts, the case is shown to comprise four side walls 10 formed of sheet metal Specification of Letters Patent.

against being crushed.

vlded on the outer edge wlth hinge lugs 23- Serial No. 779,821.

and connected together at the corners by hinges 11, each side being reinforced by horizontal reinforcing strips 12 and vertical reinforcing strips 13 riveted to the sides as shown, and to provide against projecting hinges at the corners, a single pintle is employed at each corner as shown at 14, such plntle being entirely housed from end to end by the hinge lugs, which latter are arranged asfollows: The horizontal reinforcing strips 12. are provided at their meeting with mating hinge lugs 15, and the sides are provided at their meeting with mating hinge lugs 16 that fill in the space between each two adjacent reinforcing strips 12. In this manner the pintles are eachhoused from end toend by the hinge lugs so that the corners of'the case 'are rounded and present no pointed projections.

The opposite ends 17 and 18 of the case each comprise a pair of'mating'halv'es 19 and 20 that are hinged at their outeredges as shown at 21 to the related sides of the case, and overlap at their inner edges, each half being depressed from the marginal portions whereby a resultant -margina1 flange 22 is produced which fits snugly against and reinforces the sides at the edges Each half is prothat coact with mating hinge lugs 24 on the related side in receiving and housing a pintle 25 from end to end. For locking the halves closed, the halves are provided near their free edges with transverse reinforcing strips 26 which extend over the marginal flanges and terminate in downwardly opening hooks 27 adaptedto engage over the top edges of the opposite sides as shown. Theother half is provided with forwardly projecting strips 28 that are adapted to extend along the marginal flange of the first named half, and bolts 29 are passed through said marginal flange and the opposite sides of the case. As shown the outermost reinforcing strip of the sides are disposed in close proximity to the edges of the sides whereby such edges are reinforced against distortion. Furthermore, in constructing the hinged ends of the case, each half of each end is provided on the exterior face of the marginal flange with a reinforcing strip such as shown at 30, these reinforcing strips strengthening the flange to resist distortion. All of the reinforcing strips as well as the hinge lugs which latter are formed of strap Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

metal, are preferably riveted in place whereby an extremely strong and rigid case is produced that will withstand hard usage.

In folding or knocking down this case, the securing bolts of the hinged ends are first removed, and then the halves of each end rocked open into prolongation with the related side of the case. The case is then compressed at opposite corners to collapse the sides flat one upon the other with the hinged halves of the ends disposed in prolongation of each other as best shown in Fig. 6. The halves of the end 17 are now folded toward each other upwardly, and the halves of the end 18 then folded toward each other downwardly to lie flat upon related sides whereby a flat compact bundle is produced as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 which may be stored in minimum space.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided an extremely stron durable and non-crushable metallic case which is formed of a few sheet metal parts that will not easily get out of order.

What is claimed, is

1. A metal folding case comprising four sides hinged together at the corners, and opposite ends each comprising similar halves hinged at the outer edges to related sides and having their edges overlapping, each half being depressed from the marginal edge to produce a marginal flange fitting against the inner portions of the related sides and reinforcing the same against distortion, transverse strips secured upon said halves adjacent their edges and provided upon their ends with U-shaped hooks having their inner arms engaging the inner edges of the marginal flanges upon said halves and straddling the marginal flanges on said halves and the edges of the related sides, longitudinally extending strips on one of said halves formed as continuations of the marginal flanges and lying against the inner arms of the. U-shaped hooks upon the transverse strip on the other half, and pins securing said longitudinal strips, the adjacent marginal flanges and the related sides together.

2. A metal folding case including four sides hinged together at the corners and opposite ends each comprising mating halves hinged at the outer edges to related sides and having their ends overlapping, each half being depressed from the marginal edge to produce a marginal flange adapted to fit against the inner marginal portions of the related sides and reinforce the same against distortion, hooks carried by each of said halves adapted to straddle the adjacent edges of opposite sides, forwardly extending. strips carried by one of said halves engaging along the marginal flange of the other half, and pins removably passed through said strips, said marginal flange and adjacent sides to secure the case in set up condition.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

WILBER M. JOHNSTON, F. H. BALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

